Episode 1

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Published on:

9th Feb 2024

Edutalks Canada with Olga Gagarina - Exploring International Student Perspectives

In our first episode, we talk to Olga Gagarina, a veteran in the international Ed sector of over 10 years. She is a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) advising international students in a public institution. She talks of how she started her journey in this sector as a custodian a recruiter and an expert advisor.

Transcript
Speaker:

Hello and welcome fellow adventurers

to Edu Talks Canada.

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I'm thrilled to embark on this journey

with you.

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Whether you're a student

exploring the world of higher education

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and educator,

shaping the minds of tomorrow,

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or simply someone curious

about the diverse experiences

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within university campuses,

you've come to the right place.

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In this podcast series,

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we'll be your guides

as we venture beyond Borders and dive

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deep into the vibrant tapestry

of campus life

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from navigating cultural nuances

and embracing diversity

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to celebrating academic achievements

and sharing inspiring stories.

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Edu Talks.

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Canada is your passport

to a global learning experience.

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And hi everyone,

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and thanks for joining

our very first episode.

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I have Olga here with me as my first guest

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and we are both regulated

Canadian immigration consultants.

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She's an immigrant herself

and she's worked in

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the international edu sector

for over ten years.

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Olga,

thanks so much for joining this podcast.

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It's really lovely to have you here. And

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can you tell our listeners a

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little bit about yourself, you know,

what excites you about this industry?

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Tell us a bit about your journey

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to Canada and coming into this sector.

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All right.

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Yes, Hello, everybody.

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I am excited to be here.

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First of all, I think

it's a great initiatives and thank Achuth

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for inviting me.

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There's so much to speak about

and this industry is exciting now.

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It used to be exciting

when I started ten years ago,

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but with what we are getting from

immigration refugees, Citizenship Canada

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on a weekly or monthly basis,

that means that

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if you want to have an interesting life,

you could probably join the sector

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because there's so much exciting news,

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so much complex situations,

and that is life is always interesting.

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That's what drives me towards this.

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But when I started ten years ago,

that was mostly driven by

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a curiosity

that driven by a personal case.

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Then when my sister, who wanted to visit

Canada, was not able to

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because she was refused

her first study permit and she was coming

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to study English and immigration

and if just Citizenship Canada

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didn't really believe

she was a good temporary resident.

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So that was sort of like, why not?

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Because she had, in my opinion,

now, ten years later and ten years later,

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when she just now received her visa

to come to Canada,

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I believe that

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her case was good then

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her case of great now

and she's finally coming.

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So this is a little bit of a personal

start and I apologize for that, I guess.

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No, no, no, that's fine.

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Did she get a study permit

or if you're coming in as a visitor.

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You know, coming as a visitor,

because I was fighting for that approval.

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When I mentioned

when I was submitting for application,

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I basically said that, look, dear

Immigration

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and Refugee processing,

I am the immigration consultant.

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My sister was is a good applicant.

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She's coming with her daughter,

who I didn't see and I would be more

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excited to host her in Canada.

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And there is so much more

that ties her back to her home country.

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And she's a legitimate temporary resident.

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She will be coming back

because it's just a family visit.

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So to many

who is listening here, probably will.

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And that will mean

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that would be very close

to what they have,

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like maybe international students

who have family who wanted to visit them

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for graduation

or for just their holiday break.

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But it's probably not possible.

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Somebody get lucky.

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And what is important in the application,

we will probably will cover that,

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maybe not in the first episode,

but later.

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Yeah, because I think as a general,

this podcast, as we wanted to explore

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international education sector

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in Canada, let's say our for listeners

who are interested

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in international education and Canada

and it's like we have indicated earlier,

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what like we have mentioned in the

in the intro, it's

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not just about immigration, but yes,

being immigration consultants ourselves,

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we invariably always land up

into the immigration

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or having conversations

about immigration side of things

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when international education

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or a life as an international student

is much more than just immigration.

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It's about the academics,

it's about housing, it's about finances,

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finances, etc..

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Yeah, So and here's another thing

I wanted to let

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our listeners know about Olga.

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I will be posting your LinkedIn

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within our bio, so hopefully people

can find you there. But

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it's nice that

you advocate for international students

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and future immigrants through leadership

and accessible

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immigration advisory

and ethical recruitment

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slash immigration policy.

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Analyst So could you

could you tell our listeners a little bit

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about your background in terms

of recruiting students for Canada

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and what, what what's your perspective

when it comes to recruiting?

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Because being and being in our CIC,

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we have our ethical

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regulations to follow.

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I guess.

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And so, you know,

how do you view recruiting or how the

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what is your perspective with recruiting

and what do you tell students or clients

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who are interested in studying in Canada?

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It's a great

and very much loaded question.

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So recruitment is the beginning of any

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student's journey to study abroad,

not only in Canada.

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So recruitment happens when

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a student thinks or a family

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thinks that their child potentially

could be going to study abroad.

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And then they select the country

based on what they hear about the country.

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So that that's the very interesting area.

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When what you hear about the country

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and what you hear about the prospects

that that investment in education

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abroad could give to a child

or to the client like to the prospect.

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This is where I find is the corner.

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This is the cornerstone

of the entire industry.

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So this in my belief

and I am a true believer on in

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an ethical recruitment,

it has to be coming from the point

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of a best interests of the client

and it's corporate in our code of conduct.

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Any client for immigration consultants

or regulated immigration

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consultants, we should watch out

for the best interests of the client.

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So when combining recruitment

and combining immigration,

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I think it's just a seamless

transition from you.

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Tell the

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prospective

students everything that they need

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to know about the country,

and not only how much

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it's going to cost them.

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What are the potential strategic pathways

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from once in their

when you just study and come back?

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And that's possible.

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Some students don't need to stand

on, plan to stay,

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and some just see the education

as a ticket.

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If I'm blank blunt, I'm as a ticket

to permanent residency and that's fine.

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That's one of the key strategies.

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We know we're in the industry.

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The industry is being very active

with the news and the media covering

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international students.

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So immigration through education

is a very sort of straightforward

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or should be straightforward pathway.

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However,

there are many sort of undercurrents

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there that prospective students

may not realize.

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That's where I see

the recruitment is the beginning.

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The recruitment is there

where all should be clarified before

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the student

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sales form studying abroad, be

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it Canada, UK, United States.

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I'm speaking of English

speaking countries, not necessarily them,

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like many Asian countries,

are also pretty active in the field, but

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you just need to know where you're going.

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And that's that's

the job of the ethical recruiter, I think.

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Yeah.

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And your previous experience

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in recruiting students,

was it a particular country?

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Now, I should inform our listeners

that you are from Russia

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and I think you moved to Canada

20 years ago.

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I think you know more than 20.

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That to 20 years ago.

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I would assume your primary

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source country was Russia.

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Was it Russia and others, this region.

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CIS region.

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So it's a it's called

Commonwealth of independent states.

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So Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,

Uzbekistan, like most stance,

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it could be Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran,

Moldova, Belarus, Belarus, Belorussia.

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So all those states that basically

sort of became independent states

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as a result of Soviet Union collapse,

not many actually.

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For example, Ukraine didn't join it.

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So right now, for obvious reasons,

and I think they're more obvious now,

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what's a why and why

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there was a tension that Ukraine didn't

decide to actually join it.

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But it's the market

that's the Russian speaking market.

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Most of Central Asia, let's say

the biggest than Kazakhstan,

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they may not have been

the recruits have the prospective students

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don't even speak Russian

because now that mandate

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of Russian language being imposed on

them is removed.

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So they're more in the

they have their own languages.

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And I actually like that.

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I don't there's a lot of political

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themes I can cover

because I'm very much into this.

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And global politics, global trade in

comics as what kind of close to my heart.

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Because by my training I'm

the economist first

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and then the business owner then,

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and the business owner,

I was in corporate finance and it's

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kind of injecting what I

what I bring to the table.

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There's a lot of history.

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So but past ten years,

immigration sort of, in my opinion,

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it summarizes

everything like a kind of becomes

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the sector when I can apply everything

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like I take a client's case

and it's it's everything.

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It's an investment.

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You know, in terms of this regions

and Russia, particularly

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now that you mentioned,

as I mentioned that,

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what are. The.

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Challenges

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for students,

if they're considering Canada,

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are particularly students

coming from that region?

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What are the challenges

they face coming to Canada?

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Is that language primarily,

is that other factors and

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is immigration

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top of their mind or are they just coming

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to, you know, kind of get an experience

living abroad in Canada?

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It used to be less so, Right?

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Right

now, education is becoming more and more.

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Like I said, there main channel, main

reason the students will come to study.

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But when I started studying in Canada

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was just for the reason of a better

education.

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An international recognized

diplomas and certifications credential.

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So in our market used to be

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selecting in

Canada was very much competing

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with u k with Europe actually,

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and the United States less

so Australia and New Zealand.

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It was far

and forever was adventurous enough.

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They will go to Australia

that was also there.

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The destination very much so.

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But English speaking countries

and they're let's say top five.

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So Russians

speaking market or serious markets

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and Central Asia and Middle East

like we do have some,

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we used to have some flights from

there as well.

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So it's, it was for education.

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So ten years ago, let's say I would

get a client they would be coming to study

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so the family

and they will join us for a call.

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Mom will be

the parents will be there in the child

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and they will be selecting the program

for the sake of the program.

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They will be comparing the credential

they would be will like.

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They will be curious to know how,

let's say, advanced education, advanced

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diploma at the college will be different

from a bachelor at the university.

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So those things will be on the table on

Edu discussed during first consultations.

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So and just to maybe

a little bit of fact there.

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So we started in 2013

as a custodianship agency

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and then just servicing minor students

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for for the reason that Immigration

or Refugee citizenship

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calendar requires all under each student

to have a custodian.

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So we would just Russian

speaking custodians

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who would take take care of children

coming to study at the college.

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And our first exclusive contract

with the Seneca College

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and then we've

we've been doing a great job there.

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And they said, well,

why don't you start recruiting?

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Because, well, ladies,

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pretty much mother figures for

many students were just doing great job.

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So we did

of course jumped on the offer and started.

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And this is is this custodianship

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particularly for minor students

because if they're coming to college.

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So they was 17 perhaps, I guess.

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Yes, they would be late 16, but mostly 17,

not even a full year.

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But the suggestion like basically

the college was looking for someone

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who would would be willing to take sort

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of to become an extended hand of a parent

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to represent and sign

on, let's say, medical insurance.

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If there is a hospital admission

or if there is anything

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that a parent would sign

for the underage child.

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That was their responsibility

and it was a subscription

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based record, was a charge per month.

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So if you know what to

if you want to know economics of it.

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But we did have

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complex cases.

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We had a student, we had clients

who would we had

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clients

who would call us every other week.

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But in general, pretty,

pretty happy client base.

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And most of them were converted

to recruits eventually.

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This is something I didn't know

about. You.

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Yeah, especially with the custodianship,

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and that's great to kind of

have that information.

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Now, if we do have listeners for minors

or parents

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for listening into this conversation to

perhaps

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get an idea about

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studying in Canada from professionals

such as yourself

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and kind of getting the right information,

for sure.

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I believe, and every student

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having a potential to become a future

immigrants future permanent resident.

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But it depends on how prepared they are

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and the more they know

about what's involved in this project.

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And do consider that like to listen us to

consider about immigration as a project.

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That's how I explain it to my clients.

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I, I, I, that's my title.

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And I would say

immigration is like an investment project.

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You invest your energy, your resources,

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financial time and your future.

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Yes, it's you're waiting for the outcome.

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So if it let's say

you were investing a hundred

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of your currency interbank

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you would into anything

you would want to have an outcome.

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You want to know what the outcome was,

what the likelihood of it,

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how long you need to wait

when you want to have this payback.

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So consider immigration as that

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project.

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Then it will be easier for you

to sort of deal with certain

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setbacks, certain time frame corrections.

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That's exactly what sometimes

I tell students that I'm advising is

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that you need and if you're looking

at an ROI return on investment

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into your education, whatever that be,

whether it's the work permit that you

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you are investing quite a lot of money

and of course we see students day

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in, day out that exhale

that are in academic suspension.

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So it's kind of impacts

their immigration as well

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and which I mean it's easy to say.

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But we do ask students, you know,

you really don't how I mean,

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you are investing so much money you don't

you can't afford to fail.

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Failing, failing,

becoming a very much a risk factor

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if, let's say,

can't afford to fail academically.

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Again, if there is,

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I see students

I believe in students potential.

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Yes, there might be some lack

of preparation

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or misunderstanding

of how vigorous or non vigorous their

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their studying abroad is in specifically

in Canada.

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As as as you know, we see students

sometimes are very well-equipped.

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They studied in in high school.

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Their rigor of their programs

was was sort of incomparable

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to what they have to study right now

in the year one of the Canadian college.

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However, with that sort of laxed

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approach, students now seeing that working

math has not what they used

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to study in Iran,

for example, or Singapore or Russia.

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It's way higher.

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For example, for a particular

a level of education, but doesn't mean

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that you can actually go places,

relax, work and just sort of wing it.

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It's not going to happen.

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And that's a very

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interesting point

because I know we will be having

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academic advisors on the podcast

in the future, hopefully to kind of talk

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about that,

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the academic aspect

of being a successful student in Canada.

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Right.

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So but I know you have the experience

do with

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given the number of years that you've

spent in this industry too, specifically

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because you have that experience

with recruitment and immigration, you

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you can specifically talk about, okay,

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if math is going to be,

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you know, point one in Russia, in Canada,

it's going to be point five.

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So there's that difference.

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Know, I'm

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assuming the Russian level of mathematics

is a little bit more competitive.

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Yes. Than one,

but I'm not sure that's correct. Yes.

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Russia prides

itself on being the European country

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or it thinks it is,

but it's very much an Asian country, too.

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So and there is there is a half of it.

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I was born in the middle of Russia.

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When I explain it to Canadians.

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I was born in the middle of Russia,

self of it.

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So from from that place where I left

Russia till this Pacific

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Ocean, that's where say, well, that's

where Siberia starts just to give an idea.

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So it's very much an Asian country

and very much rooted

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in this drill, sound math.

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It's very important for them.

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They call it exact science

as being physics.

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Chemistry by your bio can not be an exact,

but it's called

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those sciences are very much

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appreciated as opposed to humanities.

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So but still I find of if I speak

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of of students from our market,

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they are very well prepared.

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Like they come,

they know like academically

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they can totally study in Canada.

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And to those if

if you are from that market in many other

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I see that academically many students

are very well prepared English being

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in fact that you may

or may not be prepared enough in their

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in the level of English or French,

but mostly English,

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that all we see, it's English speaking

and they need to pass those tests.

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But academically

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they will prepare may be different system,

but they know their numbers.

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For example,

just given given of our example. But

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the the rest of the preparedness,

that's where they

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there is a lack of information

or there is an excess of disinformation.

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So it's it's what it means to be student

what it means to study abroad.

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I would I would think

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twice I would actually like right now

as a parent,

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my second son is in grade

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11, you can say, and then he's

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going to be choosing his last

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subjects or last year subjects

in the high school in preparation

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of where he's going to go to study

after the high school to post-secondary.

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And we have a lot of conversations around

will it be broad

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and will it be what country?

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What's important,

what is going to be the career,

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how you can pivot if,

let's say, your investment in one stream

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or will be different

from what it turns out to be?

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Because we have a complicated case of

I love technology business,

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but I'll I my

my favorite subject is chemistry.

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This is I'm talking about myself.

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I'm glad you brought this up

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because it's a great example

and it's a personal example.

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And that's why I believe

it's a great example, because as a parent

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yourself, with a child

approaching that university college age

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or in 11th grade and kind of looking

and you mentioned something very critical

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that I picked up on, is that

who is he going

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to study abroad? Yes,

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I want him to I honestly want him to.

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But there is

because I am this in this field,

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I think education abroad is just broadens

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your horizons like I would I would

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encourage anybody who even considers

and there is some possibility

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there is opportunity

if the parents can finance it.

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Maybe they've been

setting some funding aside.

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Maybe it's

just what always been the consideration.

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Do consider that more seriously,

but do consider it

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like it's it's

and it's an an incredible opportunity.

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I think that I would be

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like I may being but

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it's my hypothesis maybe that

I'm interested in international education

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pivoting from corporate

finance ten years ago

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after the 2008

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mortgage crisis in the states

that affected Canada,

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but that crash and how we pivoted.

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I had two children during that break,

but that's beside the point.

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How I ended up in this area,

in this sector, and I'm loving it.

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We started recruiting custodianship

that recruitment for them in:

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15, two years later, I realize

how connected education immigration are.

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And then that's how I went to study form

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for their program

to become an international story,

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to become the regulated immigration

consultant and

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studying abroad.

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I think despite the challenges

that we have now,

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despite the news that may be putting

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that idea of studying abroad

under scrutiny

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for some for some listeners,

for example, it's still a great

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:

consideration, but just

413

:

my my advice

and that comes with experience.

414

:

We advise a lot. That's what we do.

415

:

My advice to consider it

even more carefully

416

:

and listen to the sources

that you can quote.

417

:

Because let's say again, a quick example.

418

:

If somebody comes to me and say, well,

I heard or a friend

419

:

told me and I say, show me the source,

420

:

even if it's posted online,

show me the source.

421

:

Let's just read that paragraph

and let's read it carefully.

422

:

What does it say?

423

:

Who is the authority behind that?

424

:

Say, yeah, absolutely.

425

:

And I always tell students, okay,

go to the original source,

426

:

whether it's Irish, go to Canada, dot C

427

:

and kind of find information for yourself

to be accurate.

428

:

But again, let me come back

to that personal point of your

429

:

of your kids studying abroad

430

:

as a family and as a family.

431

:

What is the expectation of

what is the goal

432

:

of studying abroad for your son

being a Canadian citizen?

433

:

You know, he has the opportunity to study

in some of the top universities

434

:

in Canada or in North America

or in the world even.

435

:

Right.

436

:

So let's

is he planning to go to the states?

437

:

Is he planning to go to UK?

438

:

Is he planning to go and study

in Russia for a bit? Don't come back.

439

:

Yes. Yes. Let let me unpack that.

440

:

Let me start with what he's thinking,

441

:

because when it's me being a parent,

being very open minded parent,

442

:

very much the parent who is aware of

what's potentially

443

:

go will be happening

when my son goes abroad.

444

:

He is not that adventurous.

445

:

He's not that open minded,

but he still accepts the value because,

446

:

well, there's a lot to like

probably another podcast

447

:

and we'll come back to this, how

you prepare your children for the career

448

:

choice.

449

:

My husband, by the way,

just recently because of deadline

450

:

for applying for universities,

let's say for Canadian universities,

451

:

January, end of January is the deadline

to apply for Canadian universities.

452

:

So right now is the last two days, this

probably the last weekend that everybody's

453

:

like rushing to submit their final pieces

454

:

for their applications

455

:

for fall 2024 in the window in January.

456

:

Yes. So this year, so let's say

two years later when he will be either

457

:

finalizing it or maybe already getting

some interviews and letters of acceptance

458

:

because applications open in October,

November.

459

:

So a year in advance of the admission

for next September, which is the main

460

:

intake, the universities, that's

when admissions started.

461

:

That's prior to that September,

August, September, like a year in advance,

462

:

American universities

will want to see you taking SATs.

463

:

Those admission tests are done

a year in advance, pretty much.

464

:

So the preparation for someone

who wants to go

465

:

abroad,

let's see if you're planning the states.

466

:

Then you start early,

like a year in advance.

467

:

Canada is a little bit more relaxed.

468

:

There is no formal test.

469

:

It's only your academic credentials

and your language testing results.

470

:

If you're a native

471

:

and the English is your native language,

how let's say your Nigerian students,

472

:

they don't need to pass it, so they just

submit whatever the high school finish.

473

:

And so it starts in advance

and they can see how

474

:

in how early a student

475

:

wants to think about career choices,

476

:

how in advance they need to start about

start thinking about subjects

477

:

they want to take now in preparation

so they can show that they have,

478

:

let's say, math, physics and chemistry

in order to go into bio

479

:

life sciences, for example.

480

:

So it's it's a long process,

starts in advance.

481

:

I advise anybody who is considering

studying in Canada and coming from abroad,

482

:

they should do the same.

483

:

Yes, you may be

have some relaxed requirements, but well,

484

:

I ask immigration, refugees, Citizenship

Canada will compensate.

485

:

So there will be a lot of requirements

on the visa or study permit side.

486

:

So again, don't consider don't don't think

Canada now as a light in terms

487

:

of paperwork destination

anyway going back to my son

488

:

he is not yet decided.

489

:

He doesn't seem to be keen

on leaving away from the family

490

:

because well, life is very comfortable

to go home.

491

:

That's what he said.

492

:

Why would I change that?

That's what he said.

493

:

But it was still me

494

:

maybe keeping this door open

because I am very much excited to,

495

:

I don't know, visit him in Paris

if he goes to serve one.

496

:

And I would love that.

497

:

I mean, I would love I would love to study

in suborned and if I could.

498

:

Yeah.

499

:

But I don't know if I'm.

500

:

Yeah,

I mean yeah, different circumstances.

501

:

Different circumstances.

502

:

But this is how I actually initially

503

:

when I immigrated like

just let me bring you back a little bit

504

:

my whole idea of changing the country

like it's we're talking

505

:

education now, but immigration is very

much a part of conversation.

506

:

So when I started back

507

:

when I started thinking,

when we together started thinking about

508

:

my husband and I about immigration,

it just sounded like a great idea.

509

:

But what I told to myself, like,

that was my idea.

510

:

I ran with it.

511

:

I was a principle

applicant as a financial analyst.

512

:

I immigrated based on this profession

because the doctors

513

:

are not given points for work experience

because the doctors.

514

:

And I should I should let listeners

know that all this happened as a doctor.

515

:

Yes, it's an that's.

516

:

Another yeah, that's another conversation

because it's definitely

517

:

worthwhile attending and listening in to

because there is a lot of.

518

:

And this is this is this will probably be

a very interesting point

519

:

where someone listening in will say,

wait a minute, if your spouse is a doctor

520

:

and a new immigrant, you immigrated

being the principal consultant.

521

:

That's that's

you know, that's part of our job.

522

:

That's what.

523

:

Yeah, exactly right.

524

:

You don't understand

sometimes this aspect of our job where

525

:

we have to say, well, you being the doctor

might not be the best candidate.

526

:

And that's so weird. Yes. Yes.

527

:

Interest

528

:

you bring the

529

:

very good point when we and well,

it was an interesting story.

530

:

And let me just quickly tell you that

531

:

I was the only the only option.

532

:

We couldn't immigrate

because my husband was not given points

533

:

for his work experience as a doctor.

534

:

Without a Canadian license,

he would not be considered

535

:

because his work experience

was not even counted.

536

:

So that's the twist.

537

:

And it's not even that's how system works.

538

:

Until it three is recognized,

it's not going to happen.

539

:

So that was my my project

and I love all things new.

540

:

This is one I am basically the perpetual

541

:

novelty seeker and I loved it.

542

:

I loved the idea and then I ran with it.

543

:

And I think we will talk

more about immigration as

544

:

the episodes

545

:

go on and to this podcast,

546

:

and we are hoping we can connect

with professionals from across Canada

547

:

and give our listeners

kind of idea of not just

548

:

people like us who are based in Ontario

549

:

and GTA, etc.,

but it's to kind of give an idea

550

:

of what it means to study

anywhere in Canada, because we do.

551

:

And I mean, that's

552

:

what I'm hoping to do out of this

podcast is get more professionals in from

553

:

across Canada. So

554

:

moving on, I know we are, you know,

555

:

we have kind of started this podcast

in the cycle of a news blitz.

556

:

So let me just let

557

:

you know,

our listeners know that we're recording

558

:

at the end of January 2024,

and it's been a week,

559

:

I guess, since the big news

or the current big news has come up.

560

:

So whenever you're listening to this,

I don't know

561

:

if there's going to be another big news.

562

:

Maybe you're listening in June,

July of:

563

:

big news and you're deciding,

which big news are they talking about?

564

:

So we are talking about the cap

on international students in Canada.

565

:

And of course, you know this.

566

:

I wanted to bring you in to kind of talk

about international education

567

:

from your perspective,

being ex Russian national

568

:

or growing up as a Russian national

and now Canadian.

569

:

And that recruitment piece from Russia

570

:

and of course, globally,

571

:

clients or students

having accessibility to

572

:

Canada is now going to be limited

for the next two years.

573

:

Right.

574

:

And at this time,

all we can do is speculate.

575

:

I'm sure there's a lot of professionals,

consultants,

576

:

advisors, etc., all speculating on

every other form of media,

577

:

just like we are going to do.

578

:

But that's the best we can do, right?

579

:

Do you do you view an impact

580

:

immediately in Canada

or do you think, okay,

581

:

because there's already 1 million

international students in Canada,

582

:

we won't see the impact for another year

perhaps?

583

:

Yes, I think the impact will be bold,

584

:

immediate and long term, long lasting.

585

:

I would say

if my first reaction to the news

586

:

when I assessing announced today 5%

587

:

cut for the current year, 2024

588

:

and then more more cuts

or same same level

589

:

of of reduction of number of study

permits issued for:

590

:

So this temporary Paul is same in LA

just the key word being temporary.

591

:

But as we know it may not be

592

:

if anything temporary may be long lasting.

593

:

So this reduction is clearly affecting

the intake.

594

:

September 2024.

595

:

Clearly, the impact is immediate.

596

:

Students who applied for school

submitted applications to the

597

:

colleges and universities in Canada.

598

:

We haven't got them.

599

:

They may be impatiently waiting

if if whoever didn't get the letter

600

:

of acceptance L or A in short,

may be very much in panic.

601

:

And we've had a fair share

last week of students saying what to do.

602

:

I haven't gotten it yet, but

I want to apply right away because news.

603

:

Because news.

604

:

So it will affect

605

:

the intake of 2024 significantly.

606

:

And I believe some

some provinces in Canada

607

:

and we are staying in Toronto, Ontario

we will see a huge shift.

608

:

In my opinion.

609

:

Some colleges

should probably brace themselves.

610

:

Some colleges already

got the cultural meaning.

611

:

Those colleges who are heavily dependent

on international enrollment,

612

:

some partnerships, public

private partnerships, public colleges

613

:

that have campuses

in the center of Toronto

614

:

and offer that opportunity for students,

sort of enjoy them

615

:

the surrounding land,

enjoying the big city but studying and

616

:

at a maybe

a smaller setting may be negative.

617

:

It will be in the mall.

618

:

But you studying at a public college

that will be given you an opportunity,

619

:

the credential of a public college

and opportunity to apply for AWP,

620

:

those are cut

and they're not going to be eligible.

621

:

So that's an immediate impact for sure.

622

:

So there will be reshuffle

like I see that in my opinion.

623

:

We will notice our

we working with international students,

624

:

not even agents

who are now in the origin countries,

625

:

that they may not even realize the

the significance right now.

626

:

Like, okay, we're waiting for for them.

627

:

Yeah but I think

I think a lot of agents abroad

628

:

work or at least work on recruiting

629

:

students from multiple countries

so they might be okay.

630

:

All right.

631

:

But yes, going back to the impact on tier,

we'll definitely see.

632

:

The the immediate immediate meaning, short

term impact will be noticeable. Why?

633

:

Because given the news, given

634

:

that AOC wants to regionalize enrollment

635

:

and in in the wording of the announcement,

it says in a spirit of fairness

636

:

and the spirit of fairness, it's a

very like I like seeing that

637

:

because it's a recognition of fair

to students having an option, fair

638

:

to all the provinces

that may experience a shortage of,

639

:

let's say, labor shortages.

640

:

And and as we know and let's not be

641

:

and let's not be let's be honest,

international students do feel fill

642

:

the labor shortages when they have

an opportunity to to work off campus.

643

:

And they they're very much needed.

644

:

But there may be more

needed in northern Ontario or in Manitoba,

645

:

Saskatchewan or Atlantic Canada,

so that fairness piece as well, like

646

:

I think I appreciate the idea

647

:

of making immigration regional.

648

:

I'm sure there's the citizens

or residents of Toronto, for example,

649

:

Greater Toronto area or Greater Vancouver

area will probably see that

650

:

the impact that the less

651

:

the housing prices are being stabilizing,

not necessarily

652

:

because students are coming in

in fewer numbers.

653

:

It's because or in lower numbers, it's

because that pressure is removed.

654

:

There is a little bit

more manageable absorption

655

:

by the big city

of all this influx of newcomers,

656

:

newcomers who need support, newcomers

still may know they may not know better.

657

:

They may not know

that they need the landlords.

658

:

What are the rights, where to go?

659

:

Like all that volume,

it will likely be dispersed

660

:

across the Canada across the country,

and that's a good thing

661

:

economically.

662

:

Some the sector educational institutions

will definitely the pinch.

663

:

It will, in my opinion.

664

:

It's a good wake up call.

665

:

I actually want that to happen

as an ethical recruiting.

666

:

In the past, I, I never saw like I,

667

:

I want the agents to realize

that I want the educational institutions

668

:

to realize how much services

they may have underinvested

669

:

in while accepting

that international revenue.

670

:

I do believe, frankly,

that it's the services and invest it

671

:

into the services to international

students are not are there.

672

:

But there may be

in the very nominal value,

673

:

there may be not enough

international student advisors

674

:

who are equipped to service

complex cases and whatnot.

675

:

So I am it's just getting very close

to what we do on daily basis.

676

:

But it's it's it's important news.

677

:

And again,

we can have a separate podcast next week

678

:

when we probably will seek clarification

on what it means

679

:

and we can not even speculate

or maybe put, put some numbers.

680

:

Yeah, and that's exactly that's what

I did not want to do because, yeah,

681

:

I mean, as this news came out

and as I was just browsing through YouTube

682

:

and Instagram, like any other individual,

I do it as well.

683

:

But yes,

684

:

I always tell students, especially,

you know,

685

:

if you're going to listen to YouTube

or Instagram,

686

:

it might be sometimes

entertainment value only.

687

:

But yes,

688

:

there might be license professionals

who are also providing this information.

689

:

But at the moment it's all speculation.

690

:

And that's not

that's exactly what I want to avoid,

691

:

because we really have no idea

at this moment,

692

:

you know,

at this particular point of time, like I

693

:

said, yes, we can have one of the podcast

once things have clarity

694

:

and I don't want to speculate

and create among students.

695

:

And that's not the purpose

of this podcast.

696

:

This is more to talk about

studying in Canada

697

:

and kind of giving value to listeners

on why they should come here

698

:

and maybe also helping them

get prepared to be here.

699

:

And it kind of takes me back

700

:

to when I also worked as

an independent consultant and recruiter.

701

:

Being an

702

:

individual consultant,

I've never taken on more of,

703

:

you know, more cases than I can

than I can handle, right?

704

:

So when I used to go on recruitment

drives or something, I would tell clients,

705

:

listen, if there's 50 of you here,

I may only take two of us clients

706

:

because really,

I need you to fulfill certain criteria

707

:

for you to become my client,

because that's the capacity I have

708

:

and that's the service level

I want to achieve for my clients,

709

:

whether it's providing them information

about housing, providing them information

710

:

about driver's license,

about banking, about this in.

711

:

And by the time

712

:

they get their study permit approved,

they come to Canada.

713

:

I wanted them to be at least 80% ready

714

:

with me.

715

:

With with with this information.

716

:

Exactly. Yes. Right.

717

:

So some basic understanding. Yeah.

718

:

I would never take on more than two

or three cases a month for study permits,

719

:

I should say. Right.

For studying in Canada.

720

:

So, of course, there are other cases

that we worked on, any of us so good.

721

:

I just to echo that, in your case,

722

:

it was a little bit different

from what I my experience has.

723

:

So if you have 50 interested prospects

724

:

to come to study,

can I come and I service the market.

725

:

I used to do seminars the in India so.

726

:

I can so

but that would be not my experience.

727

:

But just to add a little bit of color

to this, I would probably have three

728

:

those three or two clients

that you would say you would take

729

:

similar to me,

I would taken in the beginning,

730

:

same number,

but those will be the very motivated,

731

:

the only one who had to stand

at the educational fair

732

:

when we will

I would either represent a college or

733

:

a language

734

:

school, because that's

what we used to do in the beginning.

735

:

When we started recruiting,

I would probably go

736

:

to Russian speaking to represent

Sheridan College or Seneca College

737

:

when they needed or Hansen School.

738

:

I thought that's

when the language mostly was appreciated.

739

:

So we would speak to

at the educational fairs.

740

:

So we would have

I would typically have like around

741

:

five four very motivated students

742

:

listening to what I have to say,

and then they will stay and linger.

743

:

If there is another question,

they will be very shy to ask the question

744

:

because not in the culture

745

:

they would listen, absorb

and then only ask the smart question.

746

:

That's how ethnic cultural thing works.

747

:

They are.

748

:

So, Don, don't sound dumb basically,

749

:

or don't ask the question at all anyway.

750

:

So those are the clients

who would stand the and ask

751

:

that those specific questions.

752

:

They become clients.

753

:

And that was a good fair

would be if I come out of it

754

:

with probably 1 to 3 solid prospects

755

:

from that region for that institution

756

:

and then the institution

and will typically take them.

757

:

So my job was basically to represent

the institution, explain everything.

758

:

That's why I know all the programs

for most of the colleges in GTA,

759

:

this is the top five,

I call them, and it just comes easy to me.

760

:

I know.

761

:

Let's see if there is someone who wasn't

given a seat at a particular college.

762

:

That program may be offered.

763

:

They're in there or maybe nowhere

and that's why you need to.

764

:

The advice changes according to that.

765

:

So that's knowledge.

766

:

Like from the early days, early years,

he would say just can't get rid of it.

767

:

So sometimes when I talk, I just

768

:

I just feel

I just know too much and it's it's it's a

769

:

professional hazard.

770

:

And yeah, sure enough,

I think I think knowing too much

771

:

is not necessarily a bad thing,

especially given the work that we do.

772

:

And given that and again,

I should tell my listeners, I do work very

773

:

I mean, all Olga and I are colleagues

at the same place,

774

:

so I do see how she advises students

and the kind of service

775

:

that she's amazing though

you are, in case you have a contact,

776

:

in case you ever come across the place

where we work

777

:

and you come across, all the rest assured

you're in safe hands.

778

:

Likewise.

779

:

No, no, no.

780

:

And I'm I'm I know exactly where I stand

in terms of my knowledge and experience.

781

:

So, yeah, again,

782

:

yeah, I think.

783

:

Student and student

just let's just put it this way.

784

:

It's I enjoy it

and thank you for the compliment.

785

:

I will take it because

786

:

Yeah,

well it's, it's, it's an interesting

787

:

but not an easy, not an easy job

because we absorb a lot of.

788

:

Yes. Not only curiosity and motivation

to study abroad in Canada specifically,

789

:

but we absorb a lot of heartache,

a lot of

790

:

confusion and often quite often

or maybe too

791

:

often, some broken dreams

and expectations not met.

792

:

So this is not an easy job.

793

:

And yeah, the fact

that we're still standing after both of us

794

:

being at least five years colleagues

form for quite a while.

795

:

We should be. Yeah.

796

:

We should. We should.

We pride ourselves in what we do.

797

:

I honestly believe our we do a good job.

798

:

Yeah, very modest of me to say, but

799

:

just.

800

:

No, no,

I totally agree with that, honestly.

801

:

But here's the thing.

802

:

I mean, I agree with that point.

803

:

And I do tell students

sometimes, you know,

804

:

and it's coming back to our point

on return on investment.

805

:

Right.

806

:

You're going to be spending a lot of money

to study in Canada.

807

:

If work permit is your goal, then yes,

we advise you

808

:

on, as you know, based on your situation,

what you need to do.

809

:

But if

810

:

you how if you're in a situation

where you know

811

:

you can get your work permit,

you can't stay in Canada anymore.

812

:

I do tell students that,

813

:

you know, it's not the end of the world

or it's not end of the world, right?

814

:

You study in Canada,

you get your degree diploma certificate.

815

:

You perhaps go back home

wherever you're from.

816

:

The world is big enough

817

:

to kind of forge your own path somewhere.

818

:

Right.

819

:

And it really depends

what you want out of life.

820

:

If you want to make money,

you can make money anywhere,

821

:

I assume, because I mean,

there are careers everywhere in the world.

822

:

Depends how much money you want to make.

823

:

You know, there's

824

:

there's a lot of questions

you need to answer for yourself right now.

825

:

Personally, I was an international student

826

:

in UK, U.S.,

and of course, finally Canada, But

827

:

I was already kind of approved for

Canadian migration when I came to Canada.

828

:

So you cannot really call me

an international student in Canada.

829

:

But yes, I did have a study permit,

forget that.

830

:

So I never thought of

831

:

remaining in the UK or U.S.

832

:

I just went back home.

833

:

And then finally Canada

is the place where I settled because

834

:

I kind of matured a little bit more.

835

:

I started seriously

thinking, okay, where do I want to go

836

:

compared to where I was at that moment?

837

:

Right?

838

:

So I do tell students,

you know, it's not the end of the world

839

:

if you don't get a work permit in Canada,

the world is much larger than it is.

840

:

So let's close out this podcast.

841

:

Olga, thank you so much for joining us.

842

:

Thanks for inviting for Yeah, no, no

and for sharing your experience.

843

:

I know we have been trying to get this

844

:

launched and I can't have a better guest

for the first episode,

845

:

So thank you so much, Olga,

sharing your experiences.

846

:

It's amazing.

847

:

Any final thoughts for our listeners

who are interested in Canada?

848

:

I am excited to be here

and thanks for having me,

849

:

obviously,

and I will want to be invited again

850

:

because I think that this podcast

is just an amazing outlet for me to,

851

:

you know, share all this wisdom

and all my experiences because it's

852

:

it's easier

853

:

for me to actually do that

in this sort of free flowing conversation.

854

:

So podcast is an amazing format

because when we present to, let's say,

855

:

hundreds of students or dozens of students

or we go one on one,

856

:

it's it's still on the point.

857

:

It's typically you answer the question

or you stick to the presentation

858

:

this way, like the podcast

where I think it's

859

:

just an easier

860

:

channel for for us to share,

861

:

and that's to share the story.

862

:

And when whoever is considering education

863

:

in Canada or education abroad in general,

consider this as a story like this is

864

:

you're sort of writing your own chapter,

like this is a one chapter.

865

:

It's it doesn't need to be the only one

in that book of life.

866

:

So I would say

867

:

I would

868

:

say that it's it's an amazing opportunity

for for for you, for students,

869

:

for parents to enrich your life

culturally and otherwise.

870

:

And Canada is one of the key places

that is still accepting

871

:

and very much open

to new people and new immigrants.

872

:

And it's likely to stay this way

with some modifications

873

:

of some limitations

that are now being imposed.

874

:

There will be just a better place.

875

:

I as a as a perennial optimist,

I would say that's going to be the case.

876

:

Like it's not stopping.

877

:

Don't take them.

Take recent news seriously.

878

:

And if your listeners two years later,

you can have a life of how panicky or

879

:

how worried everybody was back

880

:

in 2024, in the beginning,

the best is yet to come.

881

:

So it goes for both immigration

882

:

in Canada, education in Canada

and this particular podcast.

883

:

I'm going to I'm happy

to be the first guest.

884

:

Thank you.

885

:

That is it for

886

:

this episode of Edu Talks Canada.

887

:

All episodes are produced by at Achuth

888

:

Kesavan and Tigi kuttamperoor.

889

:

Opening Theme Song by Rex Banner Goals.

890

:

Be sure you subscribe to your favorite

podcast platform and leave a review.

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About the Podcast

EDU TALKS CANADA
Exploring the Landscape of Canadian Education, One Conversation at a Time
"Edu Talks Canada" is your go-to podcast for insightful conversations about all things education in Canada. Join us as we dive deep into topics ranging from innovative teaching methods to student experiences, policy discussions, and beyond. Whether you're a student, educator, policymaker, or simply passionate about education, tune in to stay informed and inspired by the diverse perspectives shaping Canadian education today.

Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewers and do not necessarily reflect the official position or stance of the institution to which the interviewers are affiliated.

It is important to note that the comments made during the podcast are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice, particularly in the context of immigration. The podcast does not constitute legal or immigration advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of qualified professionals for their specific circumstances.

In the event of an honest mistake or oversight in the podcast content, it should be regarded as a general comment, and listeners are urged to verify information independently or consult with relevant experts.

About your host

Profile picture for Achuth Kesavan

Achuth Kesavan

Achuth Kesavan is a Regulated Certified Immigration Consultant (RCIC) with expertise in federal and provincial immigration regulations. Extensive knowledge of global immigration requirements. A demonstrated leader in supporting International students through educational pathways.